Well bore deflecting tool



acter which is an'imporvement on the Lewis .Patent 2,016,042 issuedOctober 1, 1935;

I tudinal sectional view taken through 2-2 of Fig- Patented Dec. 16,1941 PATENT OFFICE I WELL BORE DEFLECTING TOOL um .I. Quinta-ell, SanGabriel, can, allignor to Company, Loo

Lane-Wells w s I corporation of Delaware Application January 2, i940,Serial No. 312,025 3 Claims. '(Cl. ass-1.6)

My invention relates to wellbore deflecting tools: more specifically,to'that type .Of deflecting tool commonly referred to as. a "knucklejoint." Among the objects of my invention are: First, to provide adeflecting tool of .this char- Second, .to provide a deflecting tool ofthe knuckle joint type wherein the knuckle joint is protected from thecutting action of the mud or circulation medium which is pumpeddownward- 1y through the drill string in the course of oper- I ating theknuckle joint;

Third, to provide a special sealing" means for the ball and socketconnection of a knuckle joint 'type deflecting tool in which thepressure of thlzecirculation fluid holds the sealing means in P iFourth, to provide a sealing means of this character for knucklejointsin which practically no loss of fluid or pressure occurs at theknuckle joint, so that the full volume of circulation fluid at fullpressure maybe discharged through the deflection tool bit in order tofacilitate its operation; and

Fifth, to provide, on the whole, a novelly constructed knuckle jointtype deflecting tool having a sealing means in which the .life of theknuckle joint is materially increased.

With the-above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter,reference is directed to the accompanying drawing, in which:

' Figure 1 is an elevational view of a knuckle joint embodying myinvention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary, longiure 1. showing particularlythe sealing means; and a 1 Figure 3- is an end view of the ball capforming the upper end of the knuckle joint with the other parts removedso as to expose the sealing means, said sealing means being shownfragmentarily.

The knuckle joint type deflection tool to which my invention pertainscomprises a ball cap member l, the upper end of which is provided withsuitable means for attachment to a drillin string. The lower portion isexternallythreaded. to receive a ball bowl 2. The end of the ball.

cap and theball bowl define a spherical seat for a ball member 3. j

The ball member is provided on its diametrically oppositesides withsockets 4, into which extend pins 8 carrying rollers 6. The pins I arewelded or otherwise secured'in the ball bowl 2 so that rotation of thecan stem is transmitted to 5 the ball a, the ball being capableof alimited.

amount of universal movement. The lower end of the ball bowl has atapered opening I through 1 which a stem 3 extending from the ball 3passes.

. The stem 8 has mounted thereon a suitable camcollar 8, a spring "I,tending to urge the cam collar toward the. ball bowl, and adjustablelocking rings H. The lower end ofthe stem is suitably attached to areamer l2, and the reamer I2 is attached through a stem I3 to a pilotbit it.

The ball cap I and ball 3 have registering passages l5 and I6,respectively, the end of passage li being flared, as indiactedby II, toinsure full opening when the ball 3 is in an angular position. PassageIt extends through the ball 3 "to' discharge ports in the bit ll.

So far, the construction described is conventlonal. My invention relatesparticularl to a sealing meansbetween'the ball-cap I an the ball member3. Formed in the end of the ball cap its an annular groove 2|surrounding the passage IS. The groove 2l confronts the ball member andreceives-an annular sealing ring 22. The annular sealing ring 22isshaped at its while the inner side or end of the ring is provided withan annular V-shaped groove 23. The inner end of the channel 2|communicates with the circulation bore I! through a plurality ofequalizer passages 24.

Hie sea'ling'ring functions as follows: During operation of the knucklejoint, circulation fluid (commonly referred to as mud) is forced underhigh pressure downwardly through the circulation passages I! and It soas to pass out through openings in the pilot bit 14. The pressure ofthis fluid is exerted by'reason of the passages 24 upon the back 'orinner end of the ring 22 as to urge it into contact with the ball member3.

40 Thus, the greater the pressure the mor the ring is forced intocontact with the ball member.

The contact pressure of the sealing ring is thus automaticallymaintained higher than the pressure that might be exerted by thedrilling fluid tending to pass between the ball cap I and the ballmember 3, thereby preventing any loss of drilling fluid from theconnection between the ball cap and ball member, and eliminating theattendant erosion and cutting away of the parts. In actual practice, thesealing ring more than doubles the life of the knuckle joint in which itis incorporated.

Various changes andalternate arrangements may be made withinthe .scopeof. the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all outerside to conform to the ball member 3,

novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as the prior art permits.

I claim;

1. in a knuckle joint deflecting tool: a ba1l and socket member capableof limited relative movement, and having registering circulationpassages therethrough; one of said members having an annular channelformed therein around its circulation passage and confronting the otherof said members, said channel being in close proximity to saidcirculation passage but embracing, for all positions of the knucklejoint, the confronting end of the'circulation passage in the other ofsaid members; connecting passages from said channel to said circulationpassages; a resilient sealing means fitting said channel and urged bythe pressure of fluid in said circulation passages and connectingpassages against said other member; and torque-transmitting meansconnecting said members at the outer sides of said joints with respectto said sealing means, whereby deleterious matter passing in saidcirculation passages is prevented from circulation from said passagesaround said torquetransmitting means.

2. In a means for sealing a hollow flexible Joint against the escape offluid passing through said joint: a ball and socket member capable oflimited relative movement, and having registering circulation passagestherethrough; one of said members having an annular channel formedtherein around its circulation passage and confronting the other of saidmembers; said channel being in close proximity to said circulationaaeasaa passages but embracing, for all positions 01 t1 2 knuckle joint,the confronting end of the circu lation passage in the other of saidmembers; connecting passages from said channel to said circulationpassages; a resilient sealing means fitting said channel and urged bythe pressure of fluid in said circulation passages and connectingpassages against said other member; and torque-transmittin meansconnecting said members at the outer sides of said joints with respectto said sealing means, whereby deleterious matter passing in saidcirculation passages is prevented from circulation from said passagesaround said torque-transmitting means.

3. In a knuckle joint deflecting tool: a ball and socket member capableof limited relative movement, and having registering circulationpassages therethrough; one of said members having an annular channelformed therein around its circulation passage and connecting passagesfrom said channel to said circulation passage, said channel confrontingthe other of said members; and an annular resilient ring fitting saidchannel, one side of said ring being shaped applied through saidconnecting passages to said channel.

HARRY J. QUIN'I'RELL.

